Novels
Fairy tales are an ever popular genre to explore. Many children have encountered fairy tales at some point in their life, especially those made popular by Disney. The Common Core State Standards require students to be able to compare and contrast between an original piece of work and it's adaptations. Because of the students familiarity with these stories they are perfect to use in comparison studies. As some of these are written through different characters perspectives they could also be used for lessons on point of view. Below is a list of novels that you could use to lead a discussion in these subject areas. Visit the lesson plans/activities page to find more ways to use these stories in your classroom.
(All summaries below are provided by the publishers. Click on the titles to be taken to Amazon to find out more information on these texts)
(All summaries below are provided by the publishers. Click on the titles to be taken to Amazon to find out more information on these texts)
Middle School
High School
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The True Story of Hansel and Gretel: A Novel of War and Survival by Louise Murphy
The True Story of Hansel and Gretal In the last months of the Nazi occupation of Poland, two children are left by their father and stepmother to find safety in a dense forest. Because their real names will reveal their Jewishness, they are renamed "Hansel" and "Gretel." They wander in the woods until they are taken in by Magda, an eccentric and stubborn old woman called "witch" by the nearby villagers. Magda is determined to save them, even as a German officer arrives in the village with his own plans for the children.
Combining classic themes of fairy tales and war literature, Louise Murphy’s haunting novel of journey and survival, of redemption and memory, powerfully depicts how war is experienced by families and especially by children. The True Story of Hansel and Gretal tells a resonant, riveting story. Murphy, Louise, The True Story of Hansel and Gretel: A Novel of War and Survival. New York: Penguin Group Inc., 2003. |
Articles
On the Trail of Hansel and Gretel in Germany
This newspaper article is a travel piece that was published in the New York Times in 2010. The article details the journalist’s trip to Germany and his travels down the Fairy Tale Road. The article offers background information on the Grimm tales, details of attractions on the road, and recommendations for places to visit. This article would be a good source for middle school aged children to read in social studies class that they could then connect to cross disciplinary themes. The exercise could be used to help students become accustomed to Newspapers as a news medium and develop their knowledge of cities and places in eastern Europe.
Allan, David G., “On the Trail of Hansel and Gretel in Germany.” New York Times, June 24, 2010, TR4. |
Movies
Click on the Title of each movie to be taken to its Internet Movie Database webpage!
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters
This film is a modernized sequel to the Grimm tale Hansel and Gretel. Hansel and Gretel are adults, and after escaping the witch, they have dedicated their lives to hunting and killing witches. Teachers could use this film to inspire students to create their own hypothetical future for other Grimm tales. This film is rated PG-13, so it is only appropriate for high school students.
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters. Motion Picture. Directed by Tommy Wirkola. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Productions, 2013. Hansel and Gretel in 3D
A retelling of the fairytale, this film attempts to add historical context to what would have been the events of Hansel and Gretel. The movie attempts to capture the dark themes in the story, rather than create a happy children's tale. Additionally, the 3D filming technique creates a fully immersed quality to viewing.This movie is not yet rated, but plot descriptions imply that the material presented would not be suitable for young children. This movie would most likely be appropriate for young high school students.
Hansel and Gretel in 3D. Motion Picture. Written by Kira Madallo. Kalliope Films, 2013. |
Websites:
For more information about this tale, click the link below to visit the SurLaLune Fairy Tales site:
http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/hanselgretel/index.html |